Cotton picking machine



Jan. 10, 1933.

.1. D. RUST ET AL COTTON PICKING MACHINE- Filed June 50, 19am 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- ATTOR N EV Jan. 10, 1933. J, qs AL 1,894,198

COTTON PICKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June so. 1950 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Filed June so. 1930 e Sheets-Sheet 4 mm. "Yum ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1933.

COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO R NEY Jan. 10, 1933. .J. D. RUST ET AL COTTON PIC-KING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 50, 1930 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOHN D. RUST AND MACK D. RUST, OF NEWJ LLANO, LOUISIANA oo'rToN maxim} MACHINE Application filed June 30, 1930. Serial No. 464,921.

This invention relates to a cotton picking machine, the present invention being an improvement over that forming the subject matter of an application filed by John D. Rust on January 27, 1928, Serial No. 249,943, the

general object oft-he present invention being to 'provide rails having resilient members thereon for engaging the rollers of the spindles to impart rotary movement to the spin- (lles, with means for automatically adjustingthe'rails to take up wear on the resilient members; to provide means for pushing the cotton back fromthe ends of the spindles at the picking point; to provide means for engaging the cotton on the spindles when the spindles are being rotated at the stripping side of the machine so that the cotton will be 1 osened from the spindles and can be rea ily forced therefrom by the stripping ribbons; to provide means for guiding any spindles that should become bent between the stripping ribbons and between the spaced bars at the picking side of the machine; to provide novel. means for guiding the plants to the picking point and for raising low limbs so that the cotton thereon will be engaged by the spindles at the picking point, and to generally increase the etficiency of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to mount a pair of the picking units on a tractor, one at each side thereof, so that two rows of cotton will be picked as the tractor passes between the rows.

m) This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which picking units, with parts removed and parts in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the means for driving the stripping ribbons from the front shaft of the spindle assembly.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig ure 4.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the guiding means for the plants.

Fi ure 11 is a sectional detail view showing t e guiding means for bent spindles and also the moistening means for the spindles.

In these drawings, the letter A indicates a tractor and B indicates a frame supported by the tractor. A pair of cotton picking units C is carried by the frame, one at each side of the tractor, so that as the tractor travels along between two rows of cotton plants, the units will pick the cotton from said rows. These units are supported for vertical movement by the frame B and cables 1 are connected with the units and with the 80.

drums 2 on the horizontal longitudinally eX- tending shafts 3 journaled in the frame.

pulley 4 is fastened to the rear end of each shaft and a cable 5 is fastened to each pulley and passes upwardly over a guiding pulley lowered. Any suitable means may be pro- I vided for adjusting the units vertically, such as levers or the like.

Each unit consists of a frame 8 covered with sheet metal 9 or the like and front and rear verticall arranged shafts 10 are supportedinthe rame. Eachshafthas attached thereto upper and lower sprockets 11 over which the upper and lower chains 12 pass. Vertical slats 13 have their ends attached to these upperand lower chains and-each slat carries a vertical row of smooth spindles 14.

. Each chain carries a plurality of rollers 15 which engage the rails 16 attached to the track bars 17 suitably connected with theframe 8. As shown in Figure 4, the track formed by these bars is bowed outwardly at the picking side of the unit and is substantially flat or straight at the stripping side. Thus the endless member, composed of the two chains 12 and the slats, is caused to pass over an elongated path, one side of which is substantially flat and the other bowed outwardly when the rear shaft is turned by means hereinafter to be described.

The s indles 141pass through holes in the slats an are rotatably arranged therein and a small roll 18 is fastened to the inner end of each spindle. The spindles are simply pushed throu h the holes in the slats.

An interna shell or casing 19, preferably of sheet metal, is fastened to the vertically arranged angle irons 20 connected at their ends with the members 17. This shell or casing is of the same shape as the track of the endless member and forms an inner wall thereof and thus holds the spindles in place as it prevents inward movement of the rolls 18 of the spindles. A portion of this shell on the stripping side is removable to provide access to t moval or replacement of the spindles and the slats. Portions of this shell are formed in up r and lower sections, as shown at 19', an these sections are supported for vertical movement. Each section carries the horizontal rails 21 and a strip 22 of resilient material is detachably connected with each rail.

The strips and rails of the upper sections 'are reversel arran ed to those of the lower sections so t at on t e picking side, the spindle rolls will engage the lower edges of the strips of the upper section and thus be rotated in one direction, while the upper edges of the strips of the lower section will engage the spindlerolls so that the lower spindles are rotated in an opposite direction. On the stripping side, the rolls of the upper spindles will engage the upper edges of the resilient strips and thus these upper spindles, 'when they reach the stripping side, will be rotated in an opposite direction from that in which they were rotated at the picking side and the lower spindles will be operated in an opposite direction at the stripping side from that in which they were rotated at the e spindles and slats to permit re-- picking side. At the picking side, the sections 19 of the shell are connected together by the springs 23 which tend to move the sections toward each other and thus cause the resilient strips to press upon the spindle rolls and at the stripping side, springs 24 connect each section to a stationary part so that these springs 24 tend to move the sections away from each other and thus keep the resilient strips in engagementwith the s indle rolls. Thus the resillent strips are ie dingly held in engagement with the rol s so that the spindles are turned and thisarrangement will ,compensatefor wear ofthe strips. As a result of this construction, the strain on the movable elements is effectively equalized, and opposing strains are compensated for within the spindle carrying structure. The strips are preferably held to the rails 21 by pointed pro ections or the like so that they can be rea ily removed when worn and replaced by new ones. The spring arrangement, however, enables the strips to be used for a long time before they have to be replaced by new ones.

The rails which carry the resilient strips extend from about the point a. to the point 6 on the picking side, as shown in Figure 4, and on the stripping side the strip carrying rails extend from about the point'a' to the point b in Fi re 7, or these rails are about the length 0 the cross piece 8 of the frame 8, as shown in Figure 4. It is simply necessary to rotate the spindles about one revolution at the stripping side.

Brackets 25 are carried by an upright 26 of the frame 8 and each bracket carries a spring member 27 for en aging the cotton on the spindles just before, uring and shortly after the spindles are rotated by the resilient strips at the stripping side of the machine. Thus these spring members 27will bear on the cotton carried by the spindles and prevent the cotton from rotating with the spindles as the spindles are being'rotated in a reverse direction so that the cotton will be loosened from the spindles. Then the cotton on the spindles is engaged by the diverging portions of the stripping ribbons 28 so that the loose cotton will be forced from the spindles. These ribbons are arranged in pairs, with the ribbons of each pair spaced apart to receive a horizontal row of spindles between them. The ribbons pass over the driving roller 29 attached to a shaft 30 at the front,end of the unit adjacent the inner side thereof and then the ribbons pass rearwardly and contact the spindle carrying strips or slats at the forward end of the unit and then as over the slats to the rear end of the unit and then after passing over the slats which are passing over the rear sprockets, the ribbons engage the guiding means 31 carried by the T-shaped bars 32 and the top and lower'cover members 33. The T-shaped bars and the cover members diverge forwardly from the endless member, as shown in Figure 4, and the front ends of the T- shaped bars are connected with the upright 34 forming part of the frame 8 and their rear ends are connected to the brackets 25. The cover member 33 is also connected at its rear end to the topbracket. Thus the guiding members 31 are divergently supported in relation to the endless member at the stripping side of the unit so that the ribbons gradually move toward the free ends of the spindles so that they push the cotton from the spindles and as the cotton is entirely pushed from the spindles by the ribbons, it will drop into the suction chamber, 35. After leaving the guiding means, the ribbons pass back upon the roller 29 and as they leave said roller, they pass between the rollers 36 which are formed with the annular V-shaped grooves 37 so that the ribbons are tilted at an angle whereby the spindles can readily pass between the ribbons, as shown in Figures 4 and 9. These rollers 36 are carried by the vertically arranged shafts 38 and any cotton adhering to the ribbons as the same pass beyond the spindles is removed from the ribbons by the small star wheels 39 carried by the shaft 40 located in the front part of the suction chamber and having the ends of their arms slightly spaced from the ribbons.

The shafts and are driven from the front shaft 10 by the sprockets and chain shown generally at 41, a spring pressed tightener 42 holding the chain taut. The front shaft 10 is supported in the spring actuated members 43 slidably supported in the frame 8 so that the chains 12 are kept taut.

The shafts 38 are stationary and the rollers 36 are rotatably mounted on said shafts and are driven by the friction of the traveling ribbons, which contact them.

, Spaced guide bars 44 are connected at their front ends to the front of the unit frame and their rear ends are bent and adjustably connected with the rear of the fran1e,as shown at 45. The horizontal rows of spindles pass between these bars at the front of the unit and the front portions of these bars are of channel shape construction and are spaced from the front end of the endless member, as shown in Figure 4. Adjacent the point where the spinreach the rear part of the unit, when they will pass from between the bars. The ribbons pass between these bars and the slats and some of the slats carry the projections 46 which pass between the ribbons of the pairs and tend to hold them in proper position. These projections will pass into the channelshaped parts of the bars on the picking side 'of the unit, as shown in Figure 6. These bars not only act as guiding means for the stalks, but they also tend to prevent green bolls and the like from being pulled from the cotton plants and they also act to separate the plants from the spindles as the spindles are moving out of the row.

A plurality of substantially wedge-shaped members 47 is supported by an upright 48 forming part of the frame, these members being arranged adjacent the rolls 36 and acting to turn any spindle that may be bent into a horizontal plane and guide such spindle between the tilted portions of the ribbons 28. Similar wedge-shaped members 49 are fastened, to the front parts of the bars 44 and act to guide the bent spindles into the spaces between the bars 44 and moistening means are associated with these members 49. v

The moistening means consist of a vertically arranged pipe 50 connected with a tank or other suitable source of supply and the horizontal tubes 51 connected with the pipe 50. These tubes are perforated so that water 'or other liquid can pass therefrom and each tube 51 carries a spindle moistening member 52 which is preferably formed of canvas or :ducking, whichhas a portion fitting loosely around the tube. This member extends between each pair of the members 49 so that it will be struck by the spindles entering the space between the members 49 and thus the spindles will be moistened so that the cotton will adhere thereto as the spindles enter the row of cotton plants.

The plants will-pass into an opening 53 at the front end of each unit at the outer side thereof and the plants will be guided to the spindles by the bars 54 having their rear ends pivotally supported, as shown at 55, to the front ends of the floor forming fianges56 at the bottom of the unit. The front ends of the bars curve in opposite directions, as shown at 57, and have eyes at their outer ends which are connected to the front ends of the rods 58 which pass through openings 59 in Y spring 62 is connected with each rod 58 and to a part of the bracket and is so formed and mounted that .it tends to move each rod 58,

by partial rotation thereof, toward the opening53 and thus causes the bars 54 to move toward each other. This movement results from the connection illustrated in the drawings, between bars 58 and 54, whereby a crank-like operation takes place at the point of connection between these bars. The front ends of the bars 58 vslope downwardly and forwardly and then rearwardly so as to form runners 57 which contact the ground, the bars 54 being connected at their front ends with the runner parts 57' of the bars 58. Thus as the machine moves along, the rows of plants will enter the space between the curve-fl ends 57 of the bars 54 and the springs 62 will cause the bars 54 to grip the plants and any portions of the .plants which are bent over on to the ground will be picked up by the bars 54, and rounded recesses 63 formed in the front ends of the parts 56 will cause the low portions of the lant to ride up upon the said parts 56 and t ese parts of the plants. will be supported by the parts 56 unti the cotton carried thereby has been acted on by the spindles at the picking int. These arts 56 terminate at a point adjacent the point where the spindles start to move inwardly at the rear end of the device.

A pair of horizontal fins 64 is provided for each horizontal row of spindles at about the central part of the bowed portion of the spindle path, these fins being connected to the outer side of the unit and the ends of the s indle pass between the same, as shown in igure 6. These fins act to push the plant inwardly beyond the ends of the spindles, avoiding the possibility of the fibres being twisted by the ends of two adjacent spindles. These fins being of little thickness, (preferably of sheet iron) insures the entrance of each spindle into one or another of the spaces between the fins even in a case of a spindle which has been bent.

The rear shaft 10 of each unit projects upwardly above the top of the unit, where it 15 connected by the gears 65 with a shaft 66, these shafts 66 being driven from a shaft 67 by the chains and sprockets 68, theshaft 67 being driven from the motor of the tractor. This shaft 67 and the shafts 66 are provided with the universal joints 69.

A suction device 70 is carried by the rear part of the frame B and has its inlet connected by the pipes71 with the suction chamber35, the front pipe 71 extending downwardly through the suction chamber and having. its lower end bent forwardly so that it will pick up the cotton dropping into the suction chamber. The outlet of the suction device is connected to the pipe 7 2 which may lead the cot ton to any receptacle, the drawings showing the pipe discharging into a container 73 mounted at the top of the rear portion of the frame B. The suction device is driven by the belt and pulleys 74, the lower pulley 'being connected to a shaft 75 sup erted by the hangers 7 6 at the rear of the rame and this shaft is connected to the shaft 67.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as' tracks, they are up the cotton. The bars the tractor travels between two rows of the plants, the plants will be guided into the picking units by the bars 54 and the arts associated therewith so that the s in es which have been previously moistene will pick the cotton from the plants and carry the same to the inner side of the rear portion of each unit,

' will finally drop off the ends into the suction chamber 35, from which it is taken by the suction device to a suitable receiver. As the spindles leave the ribbons, the will pass be tween the wedge-shaped mem rs 47 which,

as before stated, act to guide any spindles that may be bent between the strippmg r1bbons, which at this point have been set at an angle by the rollers 36 so that the spindles can readily pass between the ribbons. Then the spindles pass through the wedge-shaped members 49, where they contact the moistening means and said wedge-shaped members guide any bent spindles between the bars 44. The spindles then move outwardly into the row of plants as the travel over the bowed side of the track. he outer ends of the members then pass between the fins 64 and when the rollers on the spindles engage the resilient rotated so that they will pick 44 can be ad'ust'ed toward and away from the bowed part y the means shown generally at 45 and the spring actuated portions of the inner shell or casing hold the resilient rails against the spindle rollers so as to compensate for wear of the resilient parts of the rails and insure roper contact of the rails with the rollers. us-

ing the rubber covered rails, noise is e imi- I uated and there is no danger of breakage of the parts as therewould be ifrack means were used to rotate the spindles. The pressure of the resilient parts of the mils against the rollers is uniform.

As before stated, the spindles are simply passed through holes in the slats and are held in position by the inner shell or casing and we find it desirable to treat the slats with oil so that they will lubricate those portions of the spindles which. pass through the holes in the slats. Any cotton sticking to the ribbons is removed therefrom by the wheels 39 and by making the track for the spindle carrying member with an outwardly bowed outer side and a substantially straight inner side, the picking unit is of small width so that it can readily pick the cotton from one row without interfering with the plants in another row and this arrangementv makes the unit very compact while causing the spindles to enter the row of plants gradually and to remain in the row for considerable time and then gradually leave the row at the picking side and permits the diverging arrangement of the stripping ribbons at the stripping side.

Attention is called to the fact that the spindles only rotate on the picking side from approximately the point a to the point 6 and on the stripping side, the spindles are only rotated about one revolution. As they travel over the remaining portions of the track, they do not rotate. The bars 54 and their associated parts not only guide the plants to the picking point, but also act to pick up low and bent branches so that all portions of the plants which carry the cotton are brought into positions Where they will be acted on by the spindles. The spring actuated rods 58 permit movement of the bars 54 so that they can follow the plants in the row and at the same time cause the bars 54 to yieldingly engage the plants. I

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and. in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. In a cotton picking machine, a frame having a picking side and a stripping side, a vertically arranged endless spindle carrying member passing over said sides, means for moving said member, a plurality of rows of spindles rotatably carried by said member, rollers on the inner ends of said spindles, a plurality of horizontally arranged resilient rails on the picking side with which the spindle rollers will engage to cause rotary movement of the spindles, resilient rails on the stripping side arranged to impart rotary movement to the spindles in an opposite direction from that in which the spindles are rotated on the picking side, means for applying pressure to the cotton on the spindles as they are being rotated on the stripping side to loosen the cotton and means for stripping the cotton from the spindles after the loosening operation.

2. In a cotton picking machine, a frame having a picking side and a stripping side, an

endless spindle carrying member passing over said sides, means for moving said member, a plurality of rows of spindles rotatably carried by said member, aroller on the inner end of each spindle, rails having resilient portions for contacting the spindle rollers for imparting rotary movement to thespindles, some of the rails being located on the stripping side and some on the picking side, the

rails on the stripping side rotating the spindles in an opposite direction from which they are rotated on the picking side, supporting means for the rails, means associated with the supporting means for yieldingly holding the resilient portions of the rails against the spindles, means for applying pressure to the cotton 011 the spindles while they are being rotated by the rails at the stripping side and means for stripping the cotton from the spindles asthey leave the pressure means.

3. In a cotton picking machine, a frame having a picking side and a stripping side, an endless spindle carrying member passing over said sides, means for moving said member, a plurality of roWs of outwardly projecting spindles rotatably carried by said member, a roller on the inner end of each spindle, a casing, over the exterior wall of which the endless member passes whereby said casin holds the spindles and the rollers in position in the endless member, portions of the casing at the picking and stripping sides being supported for vertical move ment, rails carried by said portions and having resilient parts contacting the spindle rollers; for imparting rotary movement to the spindles, spring means for holding the movable portions of the casing with the resilient parts of the rails pressing upon the spindle rollers and means for stripping the cotton from the spindles at the stripping side of the machine.

4. In a cotton picking machine, a frame having a picking side and a stripping side, a track supported by the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, said track being of elongated form,-an endless member traveling over the track and including slats vertically arranged and having holes therein, spindles passing through the holes and having rollers at their inner ends, means for actuating the endless member, rails having portions of resilient material engaging the rollers of the spindles for imparting rotary movement to the spindles, some of the rails being located at the picking side and others at the stripping side, the rails at the stripping side rotating the spindles in a direction opposite to which they are rotated at the picking side, the rails at the stripping side being of comparatively short length and arranged at the rear of the device, spring means for applying pressure to the cotton on the spindles as they are being rotated by said last named rails, stripping ribbons for removing the cotton from the spindles after they pass the pressure means, supporting means for the ribbons diverging forwardly from the traveling member and means for actuating the ribbons.

5. A cotton picking machine having a picking side and a stripping side and comprising a vertically arranged endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arranged longitudinally of the machine, means for imparting movement to the member, a plurality of rows of smooth spindles carried a the endless member, means for rotating t e spindles when they are in picking position, means for exerting pressure on the cotton on the spindles while the spindles are passing alon the stripping side, a pair of strippln rib ons for each longitudinal row of spind es, said ribbons contacting the endless member at the picking side, means for causin the ribbons to diverge forwardly from t e endless member at the stripping side whereby the'ribbons will push the cotton from the spindles after the cotton has been loosened by the pressure means, rotary sup: porting means at the front of the machine over which the ribbons pass, wedge-shaped members adjacent the front end of the spindie assembly through which the spindles pass and which act to guide the spindles between the ribbons, a second set of wedge-shaped members through which the spindles pass as they start to pass over the picking side, spaced bars between which the spindles pass as they travel over the picking side and between which the spindles are guided by the second set of wedge-shaped members and means for imparting-movement to the ribbons.

6. A cotton picking machine, comprising a vertically arranged endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arranged longitudinally of the machine, means for imparting movement to the member, a' plurality of rows of smooth spindles carried y the endless member, means for rotating the sp ndles when theyare in picking position, a pair of stripp' ribbons for each longitudinal row of spin les, said ribbons contacting the endless member at the. picking side, means for causing the ribbons to diver e forwardly from the endless member at the stripping side whereby the ribbons will push the cotton cent the front en from the spindles, rotary supportin means at the front of the machine over which the ribbons pass, wed e-shaped members 'adja: of the spindle assembl through which. the s indles pass and which act to guide the spin les between the ribbons, a second set of wedge-shaped members through which the spindles pass as they start to pass over the pickin side, spaced bars between which the spin e pass as they'travel over the picking side' and between which the spindles are guided by the second set of wedge-shaped members, means for imparting movement to the ribbons and means for turning the ribbons of each pair at an angle so that the first set of guiding means can guide the spindles between the ribbons.

7 A cotton picking machine, comprising a vertically arranged endless member, an elonted endless track for said member arranged ongitudinally of the machine, means for imranged longitudinally of parting movement to the member, a lurality of rows of smooth spindles carrie by the endless member, means for rotating the spindles when they are in picking osition, a pair of stri ping ribbons for eac longitudinal row 0 spindles, said ribbons contacting the endless member at the picking side, means for causing the ribbons to diverge forwardl from the endless member at the stripping side whereby the ribbons will push the cotton from the spindles, rotary supporting means at the front of the machine over which the ribbons pass, spaced bars between which the spindles pass as they travel over the picking side means for imparting movement to the ribbons, means for turning the ribbons of each pair at an angle so that the spindles may ass between the ribbons, such means consisting of rollers having l-shaped annular grooves therein, the walls of which engage the ribbons. 0

8. A cotton pickin machine, comprising a vertically arrange endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arthe machine, means for imparting movement to the member, a

lurality of rows of smooth spindles carr ed by the endless member, means for rotating the spindles when they are in pickintgl position, means for exertingl ressure on e cotton on the spindles w ie the spindles are being rotated at the stripping side, a pair of stripping ribbons for eac longitudinal row of spindles, said ribbons contacting the endless member at the icking side, supportin means at the front 0 the machine-over whic the ribbons pass, wedge-shaped members adjacent the front end of the spindleassembl through which the spindles pass and whlc act to guide the spindles between the ribb ns, a second set of wedge-shaped members through which the spindles pass as they start to pass over the picking side, spaced bars between which the spindles pass as they travel over the picking side and between which the spindles are guided by the second set of wedge-shaped members, means for imparting movement to the ribbons, means for turning the ribbons of each pair at an angle so that the fi t set of guiding means can guide the spind es between the ribbons,

rejections carried by portions of the endess member and passing between those (pore tions of the ribbons en ging the en less member on the picking side for keeping the ribbons separated, said rojections being covered by the spaced guiding bars.

9. A cotton picking machine comprising a vertically arranged endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arranged longitudinallyof the machine means for 1mparting movement to the member, a lurality of rows of smooth spindles carrie by the endless member, a luralit of spaced guiding bars at the pic ing si e of the machine between which the spindles pass, means for adjusting the rear ends of the bars to regulate the space between each bar and-the endless member, means for moistening the spin- 5 dles at the front end of the machine, means for rotating the spindles when they are in picking position and stripping means for removing the cotton from the spindles after they pass from the picking side. 0 10. A cotton picking machine comprising a vertically arranged endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arranged longitudinally of the machine, means for imparting movement to the member, a plurality of rows of smooth spindles carried by the endless member, a plurality of spaced guiding bars at the picking side of the machine between which the spindles pass, means for adjusting the rear ends of the bars to 0 regulate the space between each bar and the endless member, means for moistening the spindles at the front end of the machine, means for rotating the spindles when they are in picking position, stripping means for re- 5 moving the cotton from the spindles after they pass from the picking side and a plurality of horizontally arranged fins between each pair of which the free ends of the spindles pass while in picking position whereby the plant is pressed inwardly from the free ends of the spindles.

11. In a cotton picking machine, a vertically arranged endless member, an elongated endless track for said member arranged longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of rows of spindles rotatably carried by the endless member, means for rotating the spindles at the picking side and for ashort distance at the beginning of the stripping 0 side, a pair of stripping ribbons for each longitudinal row of spindles, means for causing the ribbons to diverge forwardlyfrom the endless member at the stripping side to strip the cotton from thefspindles and rotary means 5 for removing cotton from the ribbons after the ribbons pass beyond the ends of the spindles.

12. In a cotton picking machine, a housing, cotton ,picking means in the housing, said 0 housing having an opening in its front end through which the plants pass to the picking means, a pair of gathering bars passing through the opening, means for movably connecting the rear ends of the bars to a part of the housing, the outer ends of the bars curving in opposite directions, a pair of bars movably supported in the front end of the housing, one on each side of the opening, said bars being conntcted with the first mentioned 0 bars, the bars on each side of the opening including cooperatingengaging means, one bar on each side being deflected, and springs on the second bars for causing the same to press the first mentioned bars toward each other,

5 the front ends of the second bars extending downwardly and forwardly to form runners and acting in conjunction with the gathering bars to pick up low portions of the plants and guide them to the picking means and horizontal flanges at the rear ends of the first .mentioned bars for guiding the low portions of the plants to the picking means.

13. In a cotton picking machine, a frame having a picking side and a stripping side, an endless spindle carrying member passing along said sides, means for moving said member, a plurality of rows of spindles rotatably carried by said member, a roller on the inner end of each spindle, means extending longitudinally for frictionally engaging said rollers and imparting rotation thereto incident to the movement of the spindle carrying member, said .means extending longitudinally comprising resiliently connected elements positioned to engage the rollers of different groups of spindles in opposed relation for equalizing strains on the movable elements specified.

14. In a cotton picking machine a frame havinga picking side and a stripping side, an endless spindle carrying member passing along said sides, means for moving said member, a plurality of rows of spindles rotatably carried. by said member, a roller on the inner end of each spindle, means extending longitudinally for frictionally engaging said rollers and imparting rotation thereto incident to the movement of the spindle carrying member, said means extending longitudinally comprising elements positioned to engage the rollers of difi'erent groups of spindles in opposed relation for equalizing strains on the movable elements specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa tures.

JOHN D. RUST. MACK D. RUST. 

